Govt to provide full protection to tourists: Riaz Pirzada

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Interprovincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada has said that the government is determined to provide full protection to the tourists and mountaineers.

Addressing the inaugural session of General Assembly of Union of Asian Alpine Association in Islamabad on Monday‚ he said necessary instructions have been issued to the provincial governments to take appropriate measures for the security of each and every tourist.

He regretted the incident of Nanga Parbat saying this act was an attempt to isolate Pakistan at the international level.

He said Pakistan is a peace loving country but the so called democratic states are subjecting it to terrorism. He said the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team was also carried out by the terrorists of a neighboring country.

The Minister said Pakistan is blessed with magnificent‚ lofty and alluring mountains offering great opportunities to mountaineering‚ trekkers and other adventurous activities.

He said Northern Pakistan is a paradise for climbers and trekkers as there is the greater accumulation of highest peaks of the world.

It has five peaks over eight thousand meters including the world’s second largest K-2 and twenty nine peaks of seven thousand five hundred meters.

Hundreds of peaks are still unconquered. He expressed the confidence that the foreign tourists will visit Pakistan to surmount these high peaks.

He said holding of the general assembly of the Asian alpine association will also go a long way in promoting mountaineering and tourism in the country.